SERENA’S POVThe rest of the day felt empty, tense and uncomfortable but mostly empty. I tried to keep busy, but my thoughts kept circling back to Lucas and the argument we had. It wasn’t that I was angry with him—I wasn’t. I was just... worried. Worried about him, about the pack, about everything.Everyone around the pack house felt the same. The tension was thick, like a storm brewing that no one could stop. I hated it. I hated the way it made my chest feel tight, the way it made everyone so distant from each other. The pack house has literally nver been this quiet.By the time the sun started dipping below the horizon, I was sitting on my bed, staring at the wall, doing absolutely nothing. My arms rested on my knees, and my fingers twisted the edge of the blanket over and over.A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts and i raised my head to gaze at the door.“Serena? It’s me,” my mother’s voice came softly from the other side.I sighed. “Come in.”The door creaked open, and
LUCAS' POV I was on the floor, slumped against the wall, her head resting on her knees. Tear stains marked the corners of her eyes, her breathing uneven, like she’d cried herself to exhaustion. My chest ached at the sight.I crouched down beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Serena, wake up,” I said softly, but she didn’t stir, even a little bit.Her face looked pale, her eyes puffy. Whatever she’d been going through, it had pushed her past her limits and her body mustv'e responded to it.“Damn it, Serena,” I muttered under my breath as I slid an arm under her legs and another around her back, lifting her easily. She felt so light, too light.She didn’t wake as I carried her to the bed. Her head lolled against my chest, her breathing was faint but it didn't sound like she was having difficulties breathing.I laid her down gently, pulling the blankets over her. The tear stains on her cheeks hadn’t dried yet, and it made me pause. I wanted to fix whatever had caused th
LUCAS' POV The sound of screaming jolted me fully awake now. A sudden loud explosion ripped through the peaceful air. The entire room shook, dust falling from the ceiling. I bolted upright almost immediately."What the hell?" I cursed. Another boom followed, this time closer. From the noises outside I could tell it was time for the main deal, it wasn't just Elijah's pack out there but other packs too. That's why the spy had suddenly gone out last night, he knew they'd attack today.A frown formed on my face as I rushed to put on my shirt. I paused midway with the top still over my head and looked at Serena whose eyes were on fixed on me with worry and guilt. "Just a sec," I said as I turned back to the door, opening it slightly I said, "Go to Beta Liam and ask that he get the army ready. I will be with you all soon." The wolf warrior after hearing my orders, nodded and walked away as fast as possible."Attack?" Serena mumbled, looking slightly conscious. "Blood Hound and Silver moo
LUCAS' POV The battlefield was chaos. The air smelled of blood, sweat, and the metallic tang of fear. Screams, growls, and the clash of weapons drowned out every other sound. The Crescent Grove Pack was holding its ground, but barely.I stood in the center of the fray, my wolf straining to take control as I fought beside my warriors and allies. The humans were scattered around us, their rifles doing less damage than we’d hoped. The Bloodhounds were brutal, tearing through everything in their path with an animalistic hunger that even the strongest of us struggled to match.“Gamma!” I yelled over the noise, spotting Gavin locked in a brutal fight with two Bloodhounds. His claws were coated in blood, his face twisted in a snarl.“I’ve got it!” he roared back, ripping through the neck of one opponent before launching himself at the other.I spun around, looking for the next threat, only to see one of our humans fall, his body limp and lifeless.“Pull back!” I shouted to the human soldier
LUCAS' POV Behind us. the battle raged on. I could hear my warriors shouting, feel the vibrations of their struggles. but all I saw was Elijah.His movements were sharp, calculated. but there was a desperation in his eyes. He wasnt as confident as he wanted me to believe."You can still stop this. Lucas." he said. panting as we broke apart for a moment. "We dont have to fight.""Youre right." I said, my voice dripping with venom. "I should've killed you the moment you betrayed me."He growled, his patience snapping, and lunged at me again. This time, I was ready. I dodged his attack and slammed my claws into his side, drawing a deep gash.He howled in pain, stumbling back, but he didnt fall. Instead, he grinned, blood dripping from his teeth, "Is that all you've got?""You havent seen anything yet." I said, my voice a deadly promise.I charged again, this time aiming for his legs. He tried to dodge. but I was faster, slashing at his thigh and forcing him to drop to one knee."lis ove
Elijah's POVAfter watching Lucas go off to find Serena, i moved closer to Vincent. "We should deploy explosives at crescent grove to avoid Lucas taking her back inside where it's heavily guarded." "That is a brilliant idea." he praised before leaving my side to pass on his order. After ony a few minutes, the explosions rang out, blood stained the ground, and the cries of wolves echoed through the air. Suddenly i realised that one of those fools had actually sent one right at Serena. I quickened my pace as i tried to get to her, but Lucas got to her first and ended up hurt too in the process. My eyes fell on Lucas and Serena, lying motionless on the ground where the explosion had thrown them.I could hear both their breathings and so i felt slightly relieved. Some of Lucas warriors rushed to them. shielding their bodies from incoming attacks. Others carried the injured away, their faces grim and streaked with sweat and blood.Vincent mst've also seen their unconscious bodies as he su
Elijah's POVMy body was numb, my chest burning with every shallow breath. I thought this was it. Maybe I deserved it. I stirred slowly from my slumber, feeling anything but refreshed. Exhaustion pressed down on me like an unrelenting fog, thick and suffocating. A strange tiredness pulled at me, beckoning me back to the comforting depths of sleep. With a heavy sigh, I turned over, letting the darkness claim me again. It was easier to face the dreamscape than the misery I called life.Distant murmurs began to slip into my consciousness, faint and far away, like whispers traveling through walls."Who is he?" someone whispered, their voice low but filled with curiosity. "Alpha Elijah?""Why did the Alpha Lucas bring him back? Didn't he betray us?"I blinked, my eyelids heavy and my vision blurred as I tried to focus. Shadows moved around me, but nothing came into clarity. My body refused to cooperate, and the pull of sleep was too strong. I let it take me again, the voices fading into t
LUCAS'S POVI stepped into my room hoping, no, praying that Serena would be awake. But she wasnt.She lay there, completely still her chest rising and falling so slowly it made a knot form in my stomach. Her face was pale, her lips dry. She looked nothing like she normally does. "Open your eyes Serena." i found myself whispering as i stared at her long lashes.I moved closer, watching her, waiting for even the slightest movement. Nothing.The physicians had said earlier that she had slipped into a coma. And now all I can do now is waitWait.I hated that word. I wanted clarification on the specific time. Am i gonna have my Serena back soon? How long would i have to go without hearing her beautiful voice call my name? How long till i see her smile again? Days? Weeks? Months? A year? The uncertainty is what i hated most.Staring at her beautiful pale face i thought back to Vincent. The man is a fool. Who lets his men send a bomb hauling at his daughter!Oh he will so pay for this. Now
SERENA'S POV "Okay, maybe if i just.." i whispered into the dark as i switched positions in my bed. "fuck, still uncomfortable." I couldn’t sleep at all and it was past midnight by now. The thought of Lucas in that dungeon, awaiting his fate, gnawed at me all night. Everything my father had told me, everything Eliana had said, none of it felt right. Even his death sentence was wrong, although he did kidnap me, he also saved me from getting mauled by that rogue. I owe him my life and letting him die just didn't feel right. "No, he's getting what he deserves." i whispered as i turned again in bed. There was this ache inside me, a pull I couldn’t explain. I kept replaying his face when he hugged me, the way he looked at me like he had finally had a breathe of fresh air after being deprived of it for so long. And when i had walked into father's office to explain what had happened, the way he stared at me broke me for some reason. Why did he look so hurt and betrayed, he barely even kn
LUCAS' POVI couldn’t stop myself from grinning as I walked through the gates of Vincent’s pack house. My disguise was rough, but it had to work. I was wearing a warrior’s uniform, with a mask and a fake tattooed marking that all warriors of bloodhound pack had on their arms. It was a risk, but it was the only way to get close to her.I had been waiting for this moment for what felt like forever. Three months without seeing her. Three months. Three months of constant aching, of never knowing if she was okay, of not being able to hold her, to talk to her, and spending every waking hour spent thinking about Serena. I knew I had to do something, anything, to get her back. I couldn’t just sit by anymore. Forcing my way into Blood Hound pack through war wasn't working so personally infiltrating is the better option.The plan was simple, get into Vincent’s pack. Disguise myself as one of his warriors, find my mate and escape with her. I had managed to slip in without anyone suspecting any
LUCAS POV I sat alone in my study, the room was dimly lit as the only source of light available was from a single candle, flickering as the wind blows by. The scent of stale whiskey filled in the air, mingling with the acrid smell of burnt parchment. On my desk were maps and notes, they were scattered and I stared at them as they reflected my head right about now. Every piece on my desk detailed Vincent’s territory, his strongholds, his weaknesses—or what little I knew of them. It wasn’t enough. It hadn't been enough for the past three months. Three months of failure. Absolute FAILURE.The more days passed by into weeks and then months the more I fall straight, face flat deeper and deeper into depression. I failed Serena. The one person I swore to protect above all else. I had been too slow, too blind, and now she was gone. My heart was slowly going numb, my world grey. Nothing made sense without her with me.Funny how a person could just appear in your life and become the entire l
VINCENT'S POV[Earlier]I sat alone in my office, staring at the broken pieces of the vase I had smashed hours ago. I could feel the lump in my throat get even bigger as i thought of Elijah's betrayal.That spineless coward had ruined everything for me. Lucas should've been dead by now. I was close, so so close. I had planned it all so carefully, and Elijah ruined it in the last secondI clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. The thought of Lucas still breathing made my blood boil. I wanted nothing more than to destroy him and everything he cared about. But now. I had another problem to deal with, ElianaShe had stormed into my room last night. She was obviously furious. I intentionally hid my plan of killing Lucas from both Eliana and Elijah because i knew they wouldn't be on board with my plan and might try to stop me. Sily children."You killed his father too?" she had screamed her face pale with shock.I hadn't denied it. Why should i? Everything I had done was for thi
LUCAS'S POVI stepped into my room hoping, no, praying that Serena would be awake. But she wasnt.She lay there, completely still her chest rising and falling so slowly it made a knot form in my stomach. Her face was pale, her lips dry. She looked nothing like she normally does. "Open your eyes Serena." i found myself whispering as i stared at her long lashes.I moved closer, watching her, waiting for even the slightest movement. Nothing.The physicians had said earlier that she had slipped into a coma. And now all I can do now is waitWait.I hated that word. I wanted clarification on the specific time. Am i gonna have my Serena back soon? How long would i have to go without hearing her beautiful voice call my name? How long till i see her smile again? Days? Weeks? Months? A year? The uncertainty is what i hated most.Staring at her beautiful pale face i thought back to Vincent. The man is a fool. Who lets his men send a bomb hauling at his daughter!Oh he will so pay for this. Now
Elijah's POVMy body was numb, my chest burning with every shallow breath. I thought this was it. Maybe I deserved it. I stirred slowly from my slumber, feeling anything but refreshed. Exhaustion pressed down on me like an unrelenting fog, thick and suffocating. A strange tiredness pulled at me, beckoning me back to the comforting depths of sleep. With a heavy sigh, I turned over, letting the darkness claim me again. It was easier to face the dreamscape than the misery I called life.Distant murmurs began to slip into my consciousness, faint and far away, like whispers traveling through walls."Who is he?" someone whispered, their voice low but filled with curiosity. "Alpha Elijah?""Why did the Alpha Lucas bring him back? Didn't he betray us?"I blinked, my eyelids heavy and my vision blurred as I tried to focus. Shadows moved around me, but nothing came into clarity. My body refused to cooperate, and the pull of sleep was too strong. I let it take me again, the voices fading into t
Elijah's POVAfter watching Lucas go off to find Serena, i moved closer to Vincent. "We should deploy explosives at crescent grove to avoid Lucas taking her back inside where it's heavily guarded." "That is a brilliant idea." he praised before leaving my side to pass on his order. After ony a few minutes, the explosions rang out, blood stained the ground, and the cries of wolves echoed through the air. Suddenly i realised that one of those fools had actually sent one right at Serena. I quickened my pace as i tried to get to her, but Lucas got to her first and ended up hurt too in the process. My eyes fell on Lucas and Serena, lying motionless on the ground where the explosion had thrown them.I could hear both their breathings and so i felt slightly relieved. Some of Lucas warriors rushed to them. shielding their bodies from incoming attacks. Others carried the injured away, their faces grim and streaked with sweat and blood.Vincent mst've also seen their unconscious bodies as he su
LUCAS' POV Behind us. the battle raged on. I could hear my warriors shouting, feel the vibrations of their struggles. but all I saw was Elijah.His movements were sharp, calculated. but there was a desperation in his eyes. He wasnt as confident as he wanted me to believe."You can still stop this. Lucas." he said. panting as we broke apart for a moment. "We dont have to fight.""Youre right." I said, my voice dripping with venom. "I should've killed you the moment you betrayed me."He growled, his patience snapping, and lunged at me again. This time, I was ready. I dodged his attack and slammed my claws into his side, drawing a deep gash.He howled in pain, stumbling back, but he didnt fall. Instead, he grinned, blood dripping from his teeth, "Is that all you've got?""You havent seen anything yet." I said, my voice a deadly promise.I charged again, this time aiming for his legs. He tried to dodge. but I was faster, slashing at his thigh and forcing him to drop to one knee."lis ove
LUCAS' POV The battlefield was chaos. The air smelled of blood, sweat, and the metallic tang of fear. Screams, growls, and the clash of weapons drowned out every other sound. The Crescent Grove Pack was holding its ground, but barely.I stood in the center of the fray, my wolf straining to take control as I fought beside my warriors and allies. The humans were scattered around us, their rifles doing less damage than we’d hoped. The Bloodhounds were brutal, tearing through everything in their path with an animalistic hunger that even the strongest of us struggled to match.“Gamma!” I yelled over the noise, spotting Gavin locked in a brutal fight with two Bloodhounds. His claws were coated in blood, his face twisted in a snarl.“I’ve got it!” he roared back, ripping through the neck of one opponent before launching himself at the other.I spun around, looking for the next threat, only to see one of our humans fall, his body limp and lifeless.“Pull back!” I shouted to the human soldier